Hyperthermia to Treat Cancer
Hyperthermia is the use of heat for medical treatment. Hyperthermia used to treat cancer is also called thermal therapy, thermal ablation, or thermotherapy. The information here focuses on how heat is used to treat cancer.
When cells in the body are exposed to higher-than-normal temperatures, they change. These changes can make the cells more likely to be affected by other treatments such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy (chemo). Very high temperatures can kill cancer cells, but they also can injure or kill normal cells and tissues. This is why hyperthermia treatment should be done by doctors who are skilled in using it.
One of the challenges with hyperthermia is monitoring the tumor temperature and keeping the exact temperature range needed for a specific amount of time without hurting nearby tissues. Also, all body tissues might not respond to heat the same way. For example, the brain is very sensitive to heat, even with the lower temperatures used in whole-body hyperthermia. Doctors and researchers are looking at better ways to monitor temperatures at the site being treated.
How is hyperthermia used to treat cancer?
Sometimes, hyperthermia can be used to treat cancer effectively, particularly small cancers. In other situations, hyperthermia is not used alone to treat cancer. It can be used with other types of treatment for different cancers.
Hyperthermia treatment can be local, regional, or whole body, depending on the extent of the area being treated.
Local hyperthermia
Local hyperthermia uses high temperatures to heat a small area like a tumor. Radio waves, microwaves, ultrasound waves, and other forms of energy are used to create the heat.
The heat may be applied in different ways:
- High energy waves aimed at a tumor from a machine outside the body.
- A thin needle or probe put right into the tumor. The tip of the probe releases energy, which heats the tissue around it.
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